Architecture roles
Business architects
- Last reviewed
- 18 May 2026
- Owner
- Head of Architecture
Business architects bridge the gap between business strategy and delivery. They help business and delivery teams to understand how capabilities, the organisation and information contribute to delivering value, through organisational objectives.
Business architects typically create capability, information and organisation maps, value stream diagrams and business models. They employ techniques such as heat-mapping, to provide greater understanding of the landscape, enabling more efficient and effective delivery.
Business architect roles in DfE align with the business architect role in the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework.
You can read more about the role of a business architect, below, or view standard business architect job description.
Business architects in DfE
In DfE, business architects work in a variety of different contexts, performing various tasks. This guidance highlights Business Architecture best practice, in an effort to bring consistency to the practice as it matures.
Best practice helps business architects when creating artefacts - it can ‘jump start’ tasks which might otherwise need scoping, and support combining, comparing or contrasting artefacts.
Whilst several business architecture practices are suggested, they are not mandated in DfE. However, they are considered sensible in the context of DfE.
Business architects should refer to the common definitions, service offer (opens in new tab, DfE SharePoint users only) (link opens in new tab) and method (opens in new tab, DfE SharePoint users only) (link opens in new tab).
Mapping
Maps are high-level visual representations of the ‘things’ being mapped.
Mapping should focus on two things as a minimum - visualisation of things mapped, and the relationships and flows between them.
The purpose of mapping is to aid the understanding of and communicate, regarding the things being mapped.
The recommended basic mapping tool is Microsoft Visio. For more complex mapping exercises, use ArchiMate compatible tools such as Archi.
A business architect might typically map value streams, business capabilities (and services that realise them), organisational structures and stakeholder relationships.
Modelling
Models are detailed, structured representations of what is being modelled.
Modelling in the context of business architecture should focus on describing and simulating business activities, or ‘what’ an organisation does.
The purpose of modelling is to aid analysis of business activities to drive improved decision making.
The recommended basic modelling tools are Microsoft Visio or Excel. For more complex modelling exercises, use ArchiMate compatible tools such as Archi.
Typical modelling for a business architect includes business capabilities, processes, information/intelligence (data), operating models, services.
Contact
If you’re interested in business architecture, email Paul Cripwell at paul.cripwell@education.gov.uk